SEIZURES OF FOREIGN PRISON-MADE GOODS.

HC Deb 23 July 1900 vol 86 cc872-3

MR. LAMBERT

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury in how many instances the Prison-made Goods Act has boon put in force, and what has been the value and the nature of the goods that have come under its operation.

MR. HANBURY

There have been six consignments only since the passing of the Act 60 and 61 Vic, chap. 63, in which the Commissioners of Customs were satisfied that goods imported into the United Kingdom were in whole or in part of prison origin. The goods were in each case mats which the Commissioners were satisfied had been, at least, partially manufactured in Belgium by convict labour. The six consignments consisted of 126 bundles of the declared value of £183. The whole of the mats were seized and subsequently destroyed by fire.